Machine for cutting butter, &amp;c.



PATENTED JAN. 7, 1908.

C. E. & 0. W. ROBERTS. MACHINE FOR CUTTING BUTTER, &o.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 27. 1907. Q

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PATENTED JAN. '7, 1908.

G. E. & 0. W. ROBERTS.

MACHINE FOR CUTTING BUTTER, 850

T on FILED M R- AP I A 27 1907 3SHEETSSHBET 2.

No. 875,738. I

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PATENTED JAN. 7, 1908.

0. E. & 0. W. ROBERTS. MACHINE FOR CUTTING BUTTER, m

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 27, 190

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UNITED STATES PATENT oEEIoE.

CHARLES E. ROBERTS AND OWEN W. ROBERTS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

MACHINE FOR CUTTING BUTTER, &c.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 7, 1908.

Application filed March 27, 1907. Serial No. 364,862.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, CHARLES E. Ron- ERTS and OWEN WV. ROBERTS, citizensof the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook andState of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improve.

ments in Machines for Cutting Butter or the Like Material, of which thefollowing is a specification.

Our invention relates to apparatus for cutting the frusto-conical cakesof butter of commerce into blocks of equal and predetermined size forretailing.

The apparatus employed is of the same general type as is disclosed inour Patent No. 841,818, January 22, 1907. The butter holding and cuttingapparatus is, in the present instance however, constructed in permanentassociation with an inclosing casing which may be a refrigerator ordisplay case.

Certain detailed improvements in construction are further disclosed aswill be set forth hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1, is a vertical sectionthrough a portion of a refrigerator showing our improved apparatuspositioned therein. Fig. 2, is a front elevation at right angles to Fig.1, certain interior parts being shown in dotted lines. Fig. 3, is ahorizontal section, showing the turn table with the rotating andindexing mechanism therefor. 4, is a detail vertical Section on line 4 4Fig. 3, showing the manner of positioning the base for sliding movementupon its Supports. Fig. 5, is a detail cross section on line 55, Fig. 4,of the same parts. Fig. 6, is a detail vertical section on line 66, Fig.3, showing the mechanism for controlling the position of the index pin.

Like characters of reference designate the same parts in the severalviews.

A refrigerator or other inclosing casing 1, is provided with the usualdoor 2; this door 2 in the present instance has formed therein a smalldoor 3 for purposes hereinafter described. Said door 2 further hassecured thereto an upper and a lower fastening means 4 and 4,respectively, which serve as a mounting for the stationary rod 7, heldtherein by cotter pin 7. The rod 7 has coiled therearound a spring 8,Said spring resting. at its lower end upon a suitable abutment 9 andadapted toeXert upward pressure upon a collar 10 rigidly secured to andprojecting from the dividing plate 12. A

cutter carriage 5 consisting as usual of a rigid arm carrying a tensionwire 6 as a cutting instrumentality is adapted to slide and be adjustedon the dividing plate as will be hereinafter explained. It also will beseen by this arrangement the cutter carriage, due to the fact that thecutter carriage is held firmly to the dividing plate, is kept at thehighest point by spring 8 on red 7. The dividing plate is mounted forvertical sliding movement on the stationary rod 7 by means of upper. andlower collars 10 and 11) which surround the rod 7. Suitably jointed tothe lower end or extremity of the dividing plate is an operating arm 13;said arm is secured to a shaft 14 suitably journaled in the casing doorand an operating handle 15 is secured to said shaft on the outside door.The dividing plate 12 is guided for vertical movement on the rod 7 bymeans of collars 10or 10 and is prevented from having a rotary move menton said red by means of a horizontal pin 11 which has one of its endsrigidly secured to the lower end of the dividing plate and its other endadapted to slide in a groove of a guide 11.

The dividing plate is provided on its exposed face with a series ofinclined grooves 16 similar to those described in the patent abovereferred to. Said grooves are so arranged that when a locking pin 17 onthe cutting carriage cooperates therewith successively, the cutter wirewill be disposed so as to cut horizontal sections of equal weight fromthe frusto-conical mass. Said locking pin 17 is carried by a transversesliding bar 18 in the cutter carriage 5, a locking screw 19 beingprovided to lock said bar in its transversely adjusted position. Saidlooking pin 17 is carried directly by a member 20, pivoted in a recessin the bar 18, having a spring 21 disposed to normally urge the pinoutward and an operating knob 22.

Suitable slide ways in the form of parallel tubes 23, extending from theback of the casing forward to the door are provided to support the base24 for the turn table which holds the butter. The base 24 as shownslides at its rear upon the tubes 23, blocks of wood 25 or the like,being provided as wear members. At the front the base has at each side anose let into a notch 27 in a steel rod 26. Said rods 26 are mounted forfree sliding movement in the tubes 23. The base 24 is provided with ajournal bearing 28 adapted to serve as a pivot for the turn plurality ofsupporting lugs 28 adapted to support the periphery of the turn table.In this particular machine the pan is not supposed to be taken off theturn table. When it is desired to place the tub of butter on the pan itwould be practically impossible to take the tub 0H the butter while inthe casing. It is therefore necessary to devise a simple means as in thepresent construction whereby the turn table could be easily withdrawnfrom the casing and the tub of butter placed upside down on the pan ofthe turn table, the empty tub then slipped off and the turn table withbutter replaced to the original position inside the casing.

The turn table 29 is of a general type known in the art and is providedwith a radial slot 30 and plural series of circular apertures 31 adaptedto cooperate with a movable index pin 32 to permit the rotation of theturn table predetermined amounts for a purpose hereinafter described andexplained in the patent referred to. The turn table 29 which is shown aspartially broken away in Fig. 3, is provided on its under surface with aseries of peripheral ratchet teeth 33, arranged to be engaged by aspring pawl 34 on the indexing lever 35. Said indexing lever 35 isfulcrumed about the pivot point of the turn table and extends outwardthrough an extended slot in the front of the refrigerator. It may beprovided with a sliding member 36 moving with it along said slot and tokeep the slot closed. The lever 35 may also be provided with lateralwings 37 adapted to slide on the base to support the same.

The index pin 32 is provided with a long extension 38 adapted to beguided in an aperture 39 formed in a side flange of the base. Saidextension has pivoted to an intermediate part at 40, an indicator lever41, said lever being fulcrurned in the back part of the base at 42. Asmall slot in the lever 41 engaging the pin on the extension 38, formsthe connection between these members and enables movement of the pin 32radial of the turn table. A sector plate 43 has a series of projections44 formed thereon and opposite the spaces between these pro jections aseries of numbers corresponding to the number of pounds which the tubsof butter of commerce are found to weigh. It will be noticed that thespaces between said projections are just sufficient to receive theindicator lever 41 and in operation said lever 41 is positioned in thespace bearing the numeral denoting the number of pounds in theparticular cake of butter in hand. In making the preliminary adjustmentthe turn table is moved so that the radial slot 30 is in alinement withthe path of movement of the pin 32 and the adjustment of said pin bymovement of the lever 41 as above indicated will position said pin sothat upon rotation of the turn table or index plate the pin will comeinto register with the proper series of holes to index the plate thecorrect amount for a cake of that particular size.

A cam member 45 is carried by the indexing lever 35 and is arranged tocooperate with the extension 38 of the index pin to withdraw the same atthe end of the return movement of said indexing lever.

It will be noticed that the inner end of the extension 38 adjacent tothe pin 32 by reason of its connection with the guide 39 and the lever41 is in effect a spring which normally retains said pin inengagementwith a hole but which may be depressed as described by the cam45 to unlock the same.

In operation the cutter carriage 5 is ad justed vertically bymanipulation of the locking pin 17 in the highest slot 16 until the Wire6 just engages the top of the butter cake. The screw 19 is then set tolock the bar 18 in place. Withdrawing the pin 17 by manipulation of theknob 22 the cutter carriage is moved downward until the pin 17 engagesthe second groove in the dividing plate. The

machine is now ready for the operation and, pieces of butter of thedesired size may be successively severed by alternate manipulation ofthe index plate or turn table by means of the engagement therewith ofthe pawl on the hand lever, and vertical reciprocations of the cuttingframe through its limits of movement by means of its connection with thedividing plate and the operating device therefor; the manner ofoperation as will-be observed is generally similar to that of themachine of the patent referred to.

Having thus fully described and explained our invention, what we claimas new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is j 1. A butter cuttingapparatus comprising a casing, slide ways secured in the base thereon, aturn table mounted to slide on said ways and to turn about an axis, anda movable cutter-member adapted to operate adjacent said turn table andsever blocks of butter thereon.

2. A butter cutting apparatus comprising a casing, a door therein, slideways formed in the base of the casing and extending towards said door, aturn table mounted to slide on said ways and to turn about a center, anda vertically movable cutter member adapted to operate above said turntable.

3. A butter cutting apparatus comprising a casing, tubular guides formedin the base thereof, a support having parts to slide in and upon saidguides, a turn table mounted to rotate upon said support, and a movablecutting member mounted to operate adjacent said turn table.

4. An apparatus of the class described comprising a casing, tubes toserve as guide ways secured 1n the base thereof, a support slidable uponsaid tubes and supported thereon at the rear, rods slidable within saidtubes and arranged to receive said support at the front thereof, a turntable pivoted upon said support, and a cutter member arranged foroperation adjacent said turn table.

5. An apparatus of the class described comprising a casing, a turn tablepivoted therein, a door for said casing and a cutting member mountedupon said door and arranged to operate adjacent said turn table.

6. A butter cutting apparatus comprising a casing, slide ways formedtherein, a turn table mounted to slide upon said ways and to rotate uponan axis, a door for said casing, a cutting member mounted upon said.door and arranged to operate in conjunction with said turn table, saidcutting member having an operating element extending without the casingwhen the same is closed.

7. A butter cutting apparatus comprising a turn table, spaced series ofapertures therein, a yieldingly mounted index pin, means for adjustingsaid pin so as to register with successive apertures in a selected oneof said series, an operator for rotating said. turntable, and means fordisengaging said index pin from an aperture upon the return movement ofsaid operator.

8. A butter cutting apparatus comprising a turn table, spaced series ofapertures therein, a yieldingly mounted index pin, means for adjustingsaid pin so as to register with successive apertures in a selected oneof said series, an arm mounted to swing and having means to engage androtate said turntable and means connected with said arm arranged todisengage said index pin upon the return movement of said arm.

9. A butter cutting apparatus comprising a turn table having a circularseries of ratchet teeth thereon and spaced series of apertures therein,a swinging arm having a pawl to engage said teeth, a yieldable indexpin, means for adjusting said pin so as to engage successive aperturesof a selected series in said table and a cam carried by said swingingarm and adapted to disengage said index pin upon its return movement.

10. A butter cutting apparatus comprising a casing, a turntable therein,a swinging arm extending without said casing and having means thereon toengage said table and rotate the same, a second arm having means thereonto variably index the rotation of the table, a door for the casing and acutting member mounted on said door and having an operating elementextending without the casing when the same is closed.

11. A butter cutting apparatus comprising a horizontal turn table, meansfor variably indexing the rotation thereof, a vertically movabledividing plate arranged adjacent said turntable, means for operating thesame, a cutting member carried. by said dividing plate, and means foradjusting the vertical position of said cutting member on said dividingplate.

12. A butter cutting apparatus comprising a horizontal turntable, avertically movable dividing plate arranged adjacent thereto, means foroperating the same, a series of variably spaced slots in. said plate, acutting member and means for adjustably positioning said member relativeto said slots.

13. A butter cutting apparatus comprising a horizontal turntable, avertically movable dividing plate arranged adjacent thereto, a spring tonormally hold said plate at the upper limit of its movement, a lever todepress said plate at option and a cutting member adj ustably mounted onsaid plate.

14. A butter cutting apparatus comprising a casing, a turn table mountedtherein, a door for said casing, and a cutting element mounted forreciprocation upon said door, and having an operating handle extendingwithout the casing when the same is closed. 15. A butter cuttingapparatus comprising a casing, a turn table mounted therein, a door forsaid casing, a cutting member adj ustably mounted for reciprocation uponsaid door and a small door in the said door arranged to give access tothe cutting member for adjustment thereof.

16. A butter cutting apparatus comprising a horizontal turn table, avertically movable dividing plate arranged adjacent thereto, and havingvariably disposed oblique slots transversely thereof, a cutting membermounted for vertical movement upon said plate and means for adjustingsaid member, said means consisting of a bar transversely movable in saidmember and having a pin to engage one of said slots and means for iixingsaid plate and bar in adjusted position.

In testimony whereof we allix our signatures in presence of twowitnesses.

CHARLES E. ROBERTS. ()VEN NV. ROBERTS.

\Vitnesscs H. J. VVINSTEN, Gno. P. HENRY.

